Clan Adair
Clan Adair (Adair Tartan)
Crest: A man’s head, couped and bloodedMotto: Loyal Au Mort (Loyal unto Death)
Region: Lowlands
Clan Chief: None, armigerous family
1. Clan Adair History
Let's explore the history of the Adair family, a tale entwined with the fertile soil of Scotland's Renfrewshire.
It all started with Thomas Edzear, who obtained a charter from none other than the fabled Scottish king Robert I for the lands of Kildonan in the Rynes of Galloway.
Duvenald's son Edgar was a brave leader who made history at the Battle of the Standard, which is recorded in the annals of Scottish history, and is most likely the ancestor of Thomas.
The name "Edzear" first appears in a 1625 charter, where the namesake appears in both its Adair and Edzear incarnations—a sign of the flexibility of Scottish naming conventions.
Robert I's generosity continued when he gave Richard, also known as Edger, lands in Dumfries, thereby establishing the Adair dynasty deep in Scotland.
The Adair name is most associated with Renfrewshire today, a reminder of the long-lasting bonds that the Adair clan has with their ancestral lands.
2. Clan Adair Tartans
Adair Tartan isn't specifically mentioned. People from the Adair sept wear the Maxwell tartans as a sign of their membership in Clan Maxwell. In addition, the Old and Rare range offers a Maxwell muted tartan.
Maxwell Modern
Maxwell Hunting
3. Clan Adair Crest & Coats of Arms
3.1 Clan Adair Crest
Worn by all of the name and ancestry
3.2 Clan Adair Coats of Arms
With a few uncommon exceptions, the colors and symbols you see stand for the individual. Thus, keep in mind that, as has been the case for many generations, only the rightful owner of these weapons may use them.
Per bend, Or and Sable, three dexter hands, appaumé, couped and erect, Gules.
4. Clan Adair Places & People
4.1 Adair Places
Dunskey Castle
Built in the era of the Adairs of Kinhilt, who also owned the Castle of St John in Stranraer, circa 1510. The seventeenth century saw the castle expanded.
4.2 Adair People
4.2.1 John Adair (9 January 1757 – 19 May 1840)
John Adair hails from South Carolina, but his roots were firmly planted in Scotland because his relatives were immigrants from Scotland. This courageous young man became a political activist, soldier, and American pioneer.
Adair didn't hesitate when the sounds of the American Revolutionary War echoed throughout the nation. He heeded the summons and enlisted in the colonial militia of South Carolina. However, his route was dangerous; the British enemy not once, but twice, captured him.
After the land had returned to peace, Adair delved into the realm of politics. He was the eighth governor of Kentucky and a true son of the land. He represented the good people of his home state in the Senate and the House of Representatives with a voice that could be heard.
4.2.2 Gilbert Adair (1944 – 2011)
Gilbert Adair was a handsome Scottish boy who had many hats throughout his life, including journalist, poet, novelist, and film critic. The novel A Void by Georges Perec, in which the letter "e" was as uncommon as a sunny day in the Highlands, helped him establish his reputation.
He was given the prestigious Scott Moncrieff Translation Prize for this achievement. Not only that, but Gilbert's stories were adapted for the big screen by Bernardo Bertolucci, who helmed movies like The Dreamers and Love and Death on Long Island.
Gilbert was born in Kilmarnock, but he spent most of his time in Paris, so his heart was there. His body of work was extensive, ranging from Peter Pan and the Only Children to Alice Through the Needle's Eye.
His brilliance was undeniable, as evidenced by the 1988 Author's Club First Novel Award he received for his masterwork, The Holy Innocents. And if you read The Sunday Times religiously in the 1990s, you may have read his "Scrutiny" column, in which he wrote from 1992 to 1996.
Regretfully, Gilbert's journey came to an end because of a brain hemorrhage, which occurred 13 months after a stroke that rendered him blind. However, his influence endures, akin to a breeze blowing through heather, serving as a constant reminder of his impact on Scottish literature and beyond.
4.2.3 James Makittrick Adair (1728–1802)
Born in Inverness and educated at the University of Edinburgh, he was James Makittrick's brother. Widely recognized for his empathetic handling of enslaved people and the underprivileged.
He started his adventure in the military and soon found himself sailing as a surgeon's mate on the Porcupine, headed for the Leeward Islands. It was in Antigua that he began his studies in medicine.
However, it was also at this time that he saw firsthand the suffering of those who were held as slaves and forced to work on plantations. He wasn't an abolitionist, but he couldn't deny the injustices he witnessed. He developed a reputation as an ally and friend among the slave folk.
While traveling through America, chance brought him to meet none other than Benjamin Franklin.
His decision to change his name to Adair as a sign of kinship and solidarity during another protracted stay in the West Indies said volumes.
4.2.4 John Adair (c. 1655-1722)
A Scottish land measurer and cartographer, John Adair was elected to the Royal Society's fellowship in 1688 for his exacting maps.
Adair was given the assignment to map the complex topography of Scotland in 1683 by the Privy Council, which acknowledged his abilities as a "mathematician and skilled craftsman."
Three tonnage acts were passed in 1686, 1695, and 1705 to finance his endeavor. But he was beset by financial difficulties, which clouded his efforts.
Regretfully, during his lifetime, very few of his maps were completed, and most of his map manuscripts were destroyed in a devastating fire in 1811.
5. Adair Associated Names
Adair is Clan Maxwell. There is no Adair Tartan. As a sept of Clan Maxwell they wear the Maxwell tartans.